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COIN ASSUBTING'AND CDUNTIN APPARATUS.

(Application med Nov. 19, 1597.)

2 'Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Mudel'.)

[Wai/fof? No. 623,916. Patented-Apr. 25, |899. J. A. KRAY.

com Assonm' ANn couNTmG APPARATUS.

(Application led Nov. 19, 1897.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets- Sheet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT i' Trice.

JOHN A. KRAY, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN O. MCOLAIN, OF SAME PLACE.

GOIN AS SOR`I'|NG` AND COUNTING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,916, dated April 25, 1899.

Application filed November 19, 1897. Serial No. 659,156. (No model.) i

To aZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. KRAY, of Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin Assorting and Counting Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

The object of the present invention,which relates to apparatus for asserting and counting coins, is to provide a machine adapted to rapidly and accurately sort miscellaneous collections of coins, assembling together those of like denomination, and counting the same, preferably by electrical appliances, so that the coins of each denomination are not only deposited in their proper place, but also each is counted, so that the exact number passing through the machine may be ascertained by a mere glance at the registering-dials.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction hereinafter fully described and claimed and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the machine. Fig. 2 is avertical cross-sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a similar view on line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional end view. Fig. is aplan view of the hopper. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the drop at the lower end of the assortingtables. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the inclined stepped shelf.

The assorting and counting mechanism is inclosed by casing A, formed on top with the transversely-elongated hopper B. The hop-l per discharges upon the inclined shelf O, eX- tending rearward in the casing and formed with transverse ledges or steps D and also with the longitudinal ribs E. Shaft F is journaled in the lower end of the hopper immediately above shelf O, the same being provided at one end with crank F and Within the hopper carrying agitator-arms f. It will be noted that there is ample room for coins to pass singly between these arms and the shelf and between the arms and the rear side of the hopper, so that this agitating device in no wise impedes the passage of the coins to the shelf. As a precaution against such clogging the opposite sides of the hopper are ribbed at B, the distance between the ribs being sufiicient to pass the largest denomination of coins and in a measure causing the coins to pass one at a time onto the 6o shelf C. Ribs E divide the surface of the shelf into six separate channels,as here shown, thus providing as many distinct and non-interfering pathways for the downward passage of the coins. Should the latter from any cause incline to pile upon the shelf, steps D will serve to effectually separate them, so that when the lower end of the shelf is reached the coins will pass singly to the counting tables.

The counting-tables (six in number) are arranged beneath shelf C and oppositely inclined, the coins passing from the discharge end of the shelf around curved guide Gr to rthe uppermost table H. This uppermost inclined table H passes the largest cointhat is, silver dollars-to the counting apparatus and to the dollar-receptacle, presently to be explained, and in the bottom of each troughlike compartment thereof are the several 8o openings H' of uniform size. The latter, while too small to permit the silver dollar to drop therethrough, are of sufficient size to pass all the smaller coins (from half-dollars to dimes) to the next table. The silver dollars, thus 8 5 passing freely over all the openings, remain upon the table until its lower end is reached. The openings I in the second table I are of sufficient size to pass all coins smaller than half-dollars, the latter remaining upon said 9o table until they discharge from its lower end, and so on down, each succeeding table having openings large enough to pass all the coin denominations which reach it, excepting the largest, and serving as a receptacle for that denomination. It will be observed that the channels of the tables become narrower in proportion to the diameter of the coins deposited therein, so that the same may pass freely from one end to the other out of the roo channels without any tendency to wedge or lodge. It will also be observed that the openings are of slightly-less diameter than the channel in which they occur, so that the largest coins will pass freely thereover.

The discharge end of each table communicates with a vertical and transversely-elongated channel J, having an inclined bottom, so that the coins will run on edge therethrough and into duct K, which conveys them to the proper drawer or receptacle L in the base of casing A. These receptacles are preferably of various sizes, proportionate to the sizeof the coins. Duct K is preferably arranged to communicate with channel J at N, with the bottom of the channelinclining from both ends toward the point of communication, and in order to prevent clogging I arrange the discharge-point of one part slightly above the discharge end of the other part, as indicated at M, Fig. t, thus eii'ectually avoiding the difficulty noted. In order to obviate clogging at the intersection of the table-channels and channel J, I provide the depending ledges 'i and recess backward the walls of the channels J at J', so that coins will pass freely, as indicated in Fig. 7.

Projecting through opposite walls of each channel J are contact-points O, secured to the free ends of sensitive springs O, which hold said points normally projected into the path of the descending coins. One of the points is connected to battery P,whieh in turn is connected to one pole of electromagnet Q, while the othercontact-point is similarly connected to the other pole of said magnet. As channel J is only very slightly larger than the coin it is adapted to pass, each coin must necessarily come in contact with and move outward points O, thus closing through itself the circuit and energizing the magnet. Vhen thus energized, the magnet draws upon armature R, connected at one end by link R to the bell-crank lever S, thus vibrating the lever and causing it to intermittently rotate tumblers T of the registering mechanism, as seen in Fig. 2, the bell-crank lever engaging the notched periphery of the tumbler mechanism, as shown. This mechanism may be of the usual cyclometer form or of any other desired construction, and as its specific arrangement forms no part of the present invention it has not been shown in detail. The lower ends of' armature R is confined in the angular retraeting-spring Q, which yields to the pull of the magnet, so that the armature engages both poles thereof; but as soon as released the spring retracts the armature and moves it in normal position for the next operation, with the bell-crank lever in fresh engagement with the tumbler mechanism. A separate indicator and a magnet are provided for each denomination of coins, though of course a single battery will answer for the series. Each and every coin is thus counted with mechanical accuracy, it being impossible, with the machine in proper adjustment, for a coin to pass the contact-point without being registered.

The machine here shown is adapted for asserting and registering six kinds of coins-to wit, dollars, half-dollars, quarters, nickels, cents, and dimes, as these are the denominations in most general use. The same, however, inay be constructed and arranged to count a greater or less number of coins and to properly manipulate coins of di fferent sizes from those here indicated.

The machine is designed as a labor-saving apparatus for use in banks, counting-rooms, and other places where large amounts of coins are received and require asserting and counting, as it reduces to a rapid mechanical operation the separating ot the coins and renders the counting thereof absolutely accurate.

Having thus i'ully described inyinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A coin-asserting apparatus comprising a box having a hopper, a plurality of inclined asserting-tables one above the other and provided with openings, the openings graduated from the upper to the lower table respectively with the large openings in the upper table, separate coin-receptacles at the bottom of the box, and oppositely-inelined ways communicating respectively With the delivery end of the tables and the coin-receptacles at the bottom of the box, substantially as described.

2. A coin-assorter comprisin ga rectangular box provided at one side of its upper end with an elongated hopper, a plurality of coin-asserting inclined tables upon which the coins are delivered, the tables extending through--` out the length of the hopper and provided with a plurality of rows of openings, the openings in the tables graduating from the upper to the lower table, the largest openings in the upper table, an inclined way at the end ot' the asserting-tables respectively, separate receptacles for the coins, and vertical passage-ways at the end of the shelves provided with a registering actuating member adapted to be engaged by the coins, substantially as described.

3. An improved coin-assorting machine, including a hopper, ribs extending inward from opposite sides of the same, and coin-assorting mechanism beneath the hopper, substantially as shown and described.

4. An improved coin-asserting machine including a hopper, ribs extending inward from opposite sides of the same, a shaft journaled in the lower end of the hopper and provided with agitator-arms, asserting mechanism beneath the hopper including an inclined shelf upon which the hopper discharges, the agitator-arms working a short distance clear of the surface of the shelf and also of the wall of the hopper in order that coins may pass singly unobstructed from the hopper to the shelf, substantially as shown and described.

In an improved machine for assorting coins, the combination of the inclined sorting-tables communicating with the discharging-channels, the overhanging ledge at each IOO IIO

point of communication, the wall of each discharging-channel being cut backward adjacent the ledge, for the purpose substantially as shown and described.

6. An improved coin assorting and registering machine including a coin passage-way, an electric circuit, an electrically-actuated registering mechanism, yielding contact points included in said circuits and extending through opposite Walls of the said passage, said contacts adapted to be engaged by the coins and the coins to form a part of the circuit for closing it, substantially as described.

7. An improved coin-registering machine comprising a coin passage-way, an electric circuit, including an electrically operated registering mechanism, two yielding contacts included in said circuit extending within the passage-Way and adapted to be simultaneous- JOHN A. KRAY.

Witnesses:

D. M. ROTHENBERGER, J. C. MCOLAIN. 

